Dear %$firstname$%,

Welcome to THE PLANNED GIVING KEY^(TM), a newsletter to help you increase your fundraising success with planned gifts.

Getting help from outside professionals can be a real boon to growing a planned giving program. I believe that being able to ask for guidance or assistance is highly professional in almost any field and actually shows true confidence and competence. Nobody knows everything!

I’ve found most development people to be quite collegial too. I can’t count how many times I’ve asked another planned giving professional for an update or further input on something pertinent to gift planning.  

In fact, the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater NY (PPGGNY) has created a highly popular masters’ forum for senior level gift planners and the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (PPP) has a list-serve where questions regarding planned giving, tax, code, campaign issues and more are routinely addressed.  We all help each other. 

That’s why I think that planned giving fundraisers should take on yet another responsibility, and create a “planned giving advisory council.” Yes, it's more work but it can be a huge help in reaching new prospects, facilitating the the gifting process, and may also add to your organizations credibility and reputation.

Working to Bring You Breakthroughs in Philanthropy,

Welcome to all our new Planned Giving Key subscribers.  

Building A Planned Giving Advisory Council

A “planned giving advisory council” is generally made up of professionals that are not officially connected to your nonprofit, but can bring their expertise into play by helping with your planned giving program. This advisory council is not the same thing as a “planned giving committee”, which usually consists of board members with fiduciary responsibilities to your organization. 

This type of council should be comprised of expert professionals such as accountants, bankers, wealth managers and other financial advisors, attorneys (trust & estate and real estate), insurance specialists, real estate agents, and others who can refer donors and also occasionally answer questions regarding certain gifts.  It should not include board members…this is “outside” assistance. But, if you don’t know where to start looking for these individuals, there’s no reason not to diplomatically ask your board members to introduce you to their resources if they can.

When putting this group together, it’s very important that these professionals are fans of your nonprofit and the mission.  They should not be closely affiliated to other charities or sooner or later a conflict will arise for them.

It’s also good to have one or two members (preferably prominent in the community) to agree to help with outreach to other professionals and possibly assume a “senior advisor” role so correspondence can go out over their signature and they can give you honest feedback from the other advisory council members.

Let the members know what’s involved. For example:

• Two group meetings a year for progress review and recommendations and success stories (you’ll follow up with meeting notes and appropriate meeting space, etc.);
• Occasional advice will be sought by only you (and not everyone in your organization) regarding gift planning;
• They will present at seminars or other donor education programs;
• Advocate for your nonprofit (when appropriate);
• Become an annual  donor (if not already) within one year of council membership;
• Refer prospective donors to your organization.
  

Like any other volunteers, the council members need recognition and stewardship.  For example:

• Press release to announce they’re joining your advisory council;
• A paperweight for their desk (or framed certificate) so everyone who visits their office will know their volunteer connection to your charity;
• Opportunity to include their articles in your newsletters (and let them have extras for their office so those who visit them will learn about you as well as the professional connection);
• “Comp” them to certain events when appropriate;
• Mail them updates or newsletters to let them know what’s happening with your nonprofit;
• You may even want to list them somewhere on website’s planned giving page;
• Don’t forget WIIFM (what’s in it for me?) either.  If there’s a way to highlight a council member…do it;
• Thank and thank and thank them. They're volunteers.

A PLANNED GIVING AUDIT as a way to improve (or create) your planned giving campaign for 2011 and beyond. 

You can:

• Learn what is realistically possible for your organization and then maximize campaign results
• Find out if your current marketing makes sense for your constituents
• See if the processes you’re using are the best practices for an ongoing successful campaign 
• Determine the most effective types of solicitation for your constituents
• Ascertain ways to improve your effectiveness as the development professional responsible for planned giving
• Learn about planned gift policies and procedures appropriate for your organization

Imagine... 

1. Your campaign goals are realistic and supported by facts
2. Your donor relationships growing stronger
3. Your marketing process is appropriate for your constituents
4. Your donors are more interested in making planned gifts to your organization
5. Your organization has guaranteed future income

          …and you made it happen with the help of this audit!  

2011 has already started!

Have You Had Your PLANNED GIVING AUDIT Yet?

Email lgreif@easypg.com to arrange a complimentary pre-audit call with Lorri.

LinkedIn Group - easyPG Group to Create Successful Planned Giving Campaigns

Lorri M. Greif, CFRE, president of Breakthrough Philanthropy, Inc., and creator of the easyPGŪ Program has worked for more than two decades in the nonprofit community focused on planned giving and major gifts.

She has created and implemented successful major gift and planned giving campaigns for both local and national nonprofits and her skill in training staff and leadership has made her a favorite speaker at planned giving seminars and conferences around the nation. 

Her unique experience in building or re-working varied major gift and planned giving fundraising campaigns from “the ground up” sets her apart from the crowd.

Lorri is a former board member of Women in Development (WID) and is still active on committees. She is also a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP), the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY), the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (PPP), the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA), and served on the National Board of Gift-Planning Consultants for Planned Giving MENTOR™, a newsletter for beginners to gift planning.